Greenisland Community Orchard

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Cllr Audrey Wales, officially launched National Tree Week 2016 by planting the first fruit tree in the new Greenisland Community Orchard.

Cllr Wales said “I was delighted to plant the first tree at Greenisland Community Orchard. The community then planted the rest of the site with 75 fruit trees, including apple, pear and plum. Participants also enjoyed building a bug hotel, meeting some woodland creatures and tasting orchard food and drink. I hope this site will flourish and provide a valuable resource for the community for many years.”

National Tree Week is the UK’s largest celebration of trees and the start of the winter tree planting season. As part of our Tree Week celebrations, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council’s free activities across the Borough have ranged from practical workshops in Ecos Nature Park, Ballymena and Bashfordsland Wood, Carrickfergus, to tree planting with school children in Larne.

Anyone can make a difference to their view and to biodiversity by adding a tree. Planting a tree is a very positive thing to do and is great fun, even in the depths of winter. There are plenty of reasons to get planting –it's great exercise, children love it, and you'll be making a valuable contribution to our local wildlife. Every tree counts.

The Tree Council’s National Tree Week is the UK’s largest celebration of trees and the start of the winter tree planting season. The first‐ever National Tree Week was held in 1975 to make Britain more tree‐conscious, encourage tree planting and promote awareness of the importance of proper care and maintenance of trees.

Tree Week marks the beginning of the tree planting season which runs right through to February. Why not get outdoors and plant a tree this winter, or simply enjoy the tremendous trees we already have in the Parks & Open Spaces in our Borough?

Friends Of

The Friends Of Bashfordsland Wood & Oakfield Glen continue to meet each month, on the second Saturday of the month, at Oakfield Community Centre, 10am to 1pm. Recent tasks have included river cleans and bat box building. If you are interested in getting outdoors and learning new skills, while preserving this fantastic woodland, please come along.

The 'Friends of' volunteer programme is coming to Larne and Ballymena in January 2017. Please see below for more details. 

Whale Watching, Portmuck

Participants enjoyed Mid & East Antrim's fantastic coastline and learning about local biodiversity at the Whale Watching event, Sunday 6th November, Portmuck, Islandmagee. On the day participants were pleased to see harbour porpoise, grey seals and seabirds.

You can often also see whales and dolphins at this spot - a real treat.

 To find out more about Mid & East Antrim's biodiversity please visit: www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/biodiversity

Mid and East Antrim In Bloom awards ceremony 2016

The Mayor of Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, Cllr Audrey Wales, was delighted to host the Mid & East Antrim in Bloom awards ceremony on Friday 28^th October at the Carrickfergus Town Hall. At the awards ceremony winners and runners up received their certificates and prizes and enjoyed afternoon tea.

Cllr Wales said “The Mid & East Antrim In Bloom awards are a chance to celebrate the many months, and often years, of hard work individuals and groups put into improving their gardens, towns, villages and schools. The Mid & East Antrim In Bloom campaign encourages everyone who lives in the Borough to think about their local environment and how flowers, plants and gardens can enhance it for people and wildlife. By actively supporting our ‘In Bloom’ campaign and competitions residents not only brighten our Borough but have been fundamental to our success in Ulster in Bloom  and Britain in Bloom.”

“There are ten Mid and East Antrim in Bloom community competition categories in total. The general competitions are open to all residents of the Borough and are the Best Kept Front Garden, Best Kept Front Container Garden, Best Kept Community Planting Scheme, Best Kept Allotment Garden, Best Kept Commercial Premises and the Gardening for Wildlife Award. There are also four competitions specifically for our Young People (16 & under) in the Borough. These competitions are the Tallest Sunflower Competition, the Painting Competition (16 & under / 10 & under), the Poetry Competition and the Best School Gardening Project.”

“I am pleased to say the campaign has been extremely well received this year and has had over 1,000 entrants from all across the Borough. In 2017 we will continue our Mid and East Antrim in Bloom campaign, continue to take an active role in supporting community horticulture and continue to be an award winning Borough.”

To see a full list of winners and runners up please visit www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/inbloom